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Much of the momentum that Manchester United finished last season was gone in the first weeks of the new campaign, but that’s especially true in a midfield partnership that seemed so exciting on the heady days of summer.
Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes started 10 of United’s last 13 games in all competitions, often with Nemanja Matic giving them some solidity, and they fitted in right away.
After Fernandes’ impressive shock upon his arrival at Old Trafford, the prospect of him playing alongside Pogba had worried the entire club and the fans. There were many dedicated column inches and discussions on social media about whether they could form an effective partnership or whether the impact of Fernandes was going to close the curtain on Pogba’s career at United.
When Pogba regained physical form when the season resumed in June, those questions were quickly answered. United won seven, drew two and lost one of those 10 games and both Pogba and Fernandes played well in the run-up to claiming third place in the Premier League table.
Pogba, in particular, looked happier than he had been for a long time at Old Trafford and seemed inspired to play alongside another midfielder who belonged to his group.
Speaking in July, the World Cup winner said: “I try to learn. When Bruno arrived, I understand that I need to understand him immediately. I didn’t want a month to adapt to his game, so I looked at him, I looked at his position, how he used the ball, what is he good at so that when he comes back we can do well together. I understand that so I don’t have to adapt.
“Immediately when I get to him, I know ‘I can do this race’, ‘I know I have to pass the ball to him there because he is dangerous there.’ I was injured. “
That dismisses the notion that Pogba is going through the end of his United career, with a move apparently still in the cards after recent comments while off international duty.
The 27-year-old used his time wisely, and those efforts helped the partnership run quickly on the field once they were unleashed as teammates.
But this season has been much tougher. Pogba and Fernandes have started four games together this season but three have ended in defeat, to Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Arsenal.
Manchester United recovered from their loss to PSG in the middle of the week with a 3-1 victory over West Ham at London Stadium.
It means United have won their last nine league games away from home and haven’t tasted defeat away from home in the league since January ahead of Tuesday’s trip to RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
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Having Pogba in that deeper midfield role hasn’t worked as well and has helped United appear more open than at the end of the last term.
However, in their 45 minutes together at London Stadium, there were signs that the partnership could still prove effective for United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has more midfield options than he did last season, thanks to the arrival of Donny van de Beek from Ajax, but it remains true that Pogba and Fernandes were United’s two best midfielders in their day.
In the second half against West Ham they combined well and after the hour, when United threatened to open the Hammers at will, they combined superbly on several occasions.
Fernandes’ impact has not diminished this season, if anything it has become even more important, but Pogba had been well below his best until the game in the capital on Sunday.
Perhaps your post-match comments to MUTV will give you some insight into why it took him so long to find his best form this season and why now might be the time to release Pogba and Fernandes together once more.
“It’s weird, it’s hard to explain because you wouldn’t understand. Even in training, I would tell the physical trainer that I feel strange, “he said at London Stadium.
“It’s not me. I get tired really fast and run out of breath really fast. The first game of the season, I couldn’t run. I was trying. I talked to the coach,” I’ll start the game and let’s see, “but I was very out of breath. and it took me a long time to regain my physical condition and recover physically. “
Pogba’s lack of energy appeared to be a major problem for United earlier in the season, exposing the back four far too often. The difficulties it has had to adequately overcome COVID-19 would explain it. If he now feels close to 100 percent again, then that partnership with Fernandes could give United a different dynamic, especially in a week where they face two great games against excellent teams at RB Leipzig and Manchester City.
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